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Sharing seven days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes that we can all find some clarity…

“Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.”- The Minimalists

Stepping back and looking at where I am in life, and how things create a few more butterflies in my chest that I’d like, I’m going to be practicing a minimalist act each day of the week, and sharing them with you. If you are feeling like your life is a bit dizzying, take a look deeper and see how much stuff you are carrying on a day-to-day basis, and join me. At the beginning of each week, I will be posting 7 days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes of finding and maintaining some clarity.

Tuesday: Pit Stop. When you stop to pump gas today, clean out your car. Throw out any trash, and put the clutter in your trunk. When you get home tonight, take out the excess and put it where it belongs — inside. This will make your commute to work a bit more relaxing.

Wednesday: Paperless. Go through all of your online bills today and, if you haven’t already, opt out of direct mail. This will not only help your house from collecting clutter, but will also help the environment.

Thursday: Practice Gratitude. Be mindful and appreciate both the little and big things in your life. That’s what this is all about. Write a list of everything and everyone for which you are grateful. Think about editing out what wasn’t listed.

Friday: Tackle the Fridge. The amount of condiments in your refrigerator can sometimes get to be a little much. Clean out your fridge. Toss out any items that are expired, wipe down the shelves, and prepare the space to be filled with clean healthy food going into the next week.

Saturday: Plan a Yard Sale. Look into the summer yard sales happening around your community. Pick one, and start planning. Make a list of things that you haven’t used in the last 3 months, and make a point to let go of them. Yard sales can be a fun neighborhood routine to get into during the warm months. A little bit of work can rid you of a lot of stuff.

Sunday: Morning Ritual. Wake up at 6am this morning. Give yourself a couple hours before your busy day and develop a calming ritual, whether it’s a brisk walk, a bath, or a big breakfast. Throughout this series I’ve tried to mention how important time is to a minimal lifestyle. The goal is to reclaim our time so that we can have more of it for ourselves, for relationships, for gratitude, and to simply be free.

+ Good luck this week! If you are joining in on this challenge, let me know in the comments!

Sharing seven days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes that we can all find some clarity…

“Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.” – The Minimalists

Stepping back and looking at where I am in life, and how stuff is creating a few more butterflies in my chest that I’d like, I’m going to be practicing a minimalist act each day of the week, and share them with you. If you are feeling like your life is a bit dizzying, take a look deeper and see how much stuff you are carrying on a day-to-day basis, and join me.

At the beginning of each week, I will be posting 7 days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes of finding and maintaining some clarity.

Week Two

Monday: Practice Mindfulness. During your lunch break, take 30 minutes to practice mindfulness. Focus on your present moment, calmly accept any feelings that you are having, and allow yourself a therapeutic half-hour. This practice is so important to implement on a daily basis, as it resets your body to focus on the important things.

Tuesday: Minimal Ingredients. Consume minimal numbers of ingredients today. Try spending the day eating clean, raw, wholesome foods. If you can’t make an entire day of it, try making one tiny switch in your routine and make time to really notice the natural flavors in one of your favorite indulgences. For me, I’m a matcha girl through and through. I usually add a bit of coconut milk, collagen peptides, and a drizzle of honey each morning to sweeten it up a bit. If you’re a coffee girl, go cream- or sugar-free.

Wednesday: Declutter Your Workspace. It’s hard to be inspired if your workspace is a mess. It’s also easy to let it get out of hand when you are constantly doing your job. Take 10 minutes and do a quick sweep of your space today. Clean off surfaces, organize piles, and get rid of anything you don’t need.

Thursday: Night Ritual. Slow down your evening — develop a nighttime ritual. Gather a few things that make you happy and peaceful, and visit/use them before bed. This will allow you to refrain from over-tasking and focus on a restful night’a sleep.

Friday: Donate Box. Start a “donate box”. Put it in a corner of your home, and add something to it daily or weekly.

Saturday: Experience. Go out and try something new. Instead of spending money on a physical thing, instead consider an experience. Spending on experiences is always a yes in the world of minimalism. Need some inspiration? Here you go.

Sharing seven days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes that we can all find some clarity…

I have entirely too much stuff. Stuff meaning: books, towels, emails, clothes, makeup, Facebook friends, 5 different hairbrushes. Not only is my tiny apartment actually overflowing with stuff, but so is my computer, my phone, my brain. I mean, honestly, why do I have an entire drawer full of dried flowers? Who do I think I am, Anne Of Green Gables? (I wish), but no, I’m not. So, because of all of the above, and more, I’m going to try and take baby steps that could lead to a more minimalist lifestyle.

But first things first, let’s clear up what that actually means. Practicing minimalism, or living a minimalist lifestyle, may mean different things to different people. Some may say it means getting rid of your car, your phone, even saying no to those silly-buddy colored mules in your shopping cart. For me, I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with material possessions — if those shoes are important to you, then that’s wonderful. With that being said, I also believe that balance is key. Moderation is our friend. A minimalist lifestyle is personal to each and every one of us, and we can all set our own rules on how big or little we would like to practice it.

“Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.” –The Minimalists

Stepping back and looking at where I am in life, and how stuff is creating a few more butterflies in my chest that I’d like, I’m going to be practicing a minimalist act each day of the week, and share them with you. If you are feeling like your life is a bit dizzying, take a look deeper and see how much stuff you are carrying on a day-to-day basis, and join me.

At the beginning of each week, I will be posting 7 days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes of finding and maintaining some clarity.

Week Two:

Monday: Evaluate Commitments. I’m the queen of overcommitting. It can be both a good and bad thing, but typically, it’s overwhelming. Take a step back at all of your commitments, and narrow them down. Cut out anything that may be adding stress. With that, don’t sell yourself short. You are capable of doing everything — just not at once. If it’s important enough to you, you’ll eventually get it done.

Tuesday: Bare Faced. Go the entire day without any makeup. There is some sort of power that comes with exposing your true and natural self to the world with complete confidence. Not only will you feel that power, but your skin will enjoy the break as well. 🙂

Wednesday: Unfollow + Unfriend. I have 2,000+ friends on Facebook. What the heck. I couldn’t even name 100 friends off the top of my head. I’m constantly exposed to content on my social media feeds that may make me feel negative, and yet I just scroll past. Sometimes I see posts from people that I don’t even know. Unfriend anyone who doesn’t add to your life’s conversation.

Thursday: No Spending. Not even a nickel! Take a break today from pulling out your wallet. Use up all of those groceries that you have and get creative. Going a day each week without spending anything is completely freeing, and will help you reflect on what is important enough for your hard earned cash.

Friday: Prune The Garden. Go snip all the dead and old out of your garden. Cutting back on blooms helps new ones grow, and the fresh cuts will add some minimal decor into your space. Place a single stem in each jar, and enjoy the beauty of single digits.

Saturday: Donate 10 Pieces of Clothing. I have jeans in my closet that don’t fit me, like, at all, and yet I refuse to part ways with them. Pick 10 items out of your closet that either you no longer fit into or simplydon’t like anymore, and donate them. You’ll feel great about the space that opens up, and even better that someone else will get the chance to love and enjoy them. Think about if you did this once every few months!

Sunday: Solitude. Spend the day with yourself. Go for a hike, read on the porch, or create something. Feel the joy that comes with the quietness of solitude.

+ Good luck this week! If you are joining in on this challenge, let me know in the comments!

Consider taking a few baby steps to living a more minimalist lifestyle…

I’m going to begin this series by openly admitting that I have entirely too much stuff. Stuff meaning: books, towels, emails, clothes, makeup, Facebook friends, 5 different hairbrushes. Not only is my tiny apartment actually overflowing with stuff, but so is my computer, my phone, my brain. I mean, honestly, why do I have an entire drawer full of dried flowers? Who do I think I am, Anne Of Green Gables? (I wish), but no, I’m not. So, because of all of the above, and more, I’m going to try and take baby steps that could lead to a more minimalist lifestyle.

But first things first, let’s clear up what that actually means. Practicing minimalism, or living a minimalist lifestyle, may mean different things to different people. Some may say it means getting rid of your car, your phone, even saying no to those silly-buddy colored mules in your shopping cart. For me, I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with material possessions — if those shoes are important to you, then that’s wonderful. With that being said, I also believe that balance is key. Moderation is our friend. A minimalist lifestyle is personal to each and every one of us, and we can all set our own rules on how big or little we would like to practice it.

“Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.” –The Minimalists

Stepping back and looking at where I am in life, and how stuff is creating a few more butterflies in my chest that I’d like, I’m going to be practicing a minimalist act each day of the week, and share them with you. If you are feeling like your life is a bit dizzying, take a look deeper and see how much stuff you are carrying on a day-to-day basis, and join me.

At the beginning of each week, I will be posting 7 days’ worth of minimalist practices with hopes of finding and maintaining some clarity. Let’s begin.

Week One

Monday: Meditate 15 Minutes.

Simplify time and be aware of each minute. This time is only yours. Space out a bit.

Tuesday: Declutter Phone.

Erase your text messages. Go through your email inbox and unsubscribe from any mail that may be overwhelming. Save important photos, and delete the others. Get rid of any unused apps. Change your background image. I promise you will feel a bit better after this one!

Wednesday: Clean Out Purse.

Self-explanatory. Dump it upside down, and get rid of all of those crumpled up receipts. Collect loose change, etc. Hang on to your essentials: wallet, chapstick, crystal stick for that good ju-ju. This quick and easy task will make the rest of your week a bit more easier and organized.

Thursday: Practice Single Tasking.

Spend the day focusing on one thing at a time. For example, when you are eating breakfast, don’t watch TV. I’m currently writing this post with 13 tabs open, while rubbing my dog’s tummy, and sipping some iced matcha. Overstimulation and overcompensating is exhausting. Put effort into one thing at a time, and try to focus.

Friday: Makeup Purge.

Open up your makeup drawer and get tossing. Get rid of anything old, or filled with yucky chemicals. Think about what basics you use every day, and stick with those. Replace the things you tossed with all-natural, cruelty-free products that make you feel good.

Saturday: Unplug.

It’s the weekend! Stay away from electronics and media for the entire day. No phone, no computer. Get outside and enjoy Mother Earth. For more tips, read this.

Sunday: No Complaints.

Think onward and upward. Consider all of the good, and mute the bad. Erase all of the negative things that are weighing you down, and try focusing on the positive.

+ Good luck this week! If you are joining in on this challenge, let me know in the comments!

To break my Sunday cycle, I started off by telling myself this: You are a beautiful, hard-working, selfless being, and you deserve this time. Treat yourself.

So I did. Three things, every Sunday, for myself. I’m sharing them to give y’all some ideas, and hopefully inspire you to take a day off — completely — and cater to your needs. Follow along with this series if you feel like your “you” time is missing.

Find a farmers’ market.

This Sunday marks the beginning of farmers’ market season here in Pittsburgh. I can’t even begin to explain how happy typing that sentence just made me. I love waking up early, grabbing my tote, and strolling a couple blocks down the street to the sweet little corner that has transformed into a pop-up market. Not much can beat a haul of organic goodies from local community farms. Track down a local farmers’ market today, and pick up some delicious nut milks, fresh cut blooms, and juicy strawberries.

Feed new friends.

Spring means waking to the sound of little birdies chirping from their nests. It means poppy colored cardinals and bluejays who carry the hue of the sea. On Sundays, I’ve been making little bundles of bird seed for my flying friends to set out for them to enjoy throughout the week. I love waking up in the morning, sipping on warm matcha, and watching them happily flutter over a simple treat — a beautiful way to start a busy week and calm the pre-work jitters.

Go pick up a bird blend at your local supply store, or follow this quick 5 ingredient recipe:

1 cup black oil sunflower seed

1 cup peanuts

1 cup striped sunflower seed

1 cup mixed feed nuts

1 cup raisins

Freshen up.

Spring cleaning is bound to hit at some point. Keeping your home spic n’ span will boost your mood, as will adding a little pop of color and life. I love walking through neighborhoods that aren’t afraid to shout color from their homes, and spring is the best time to do it. Go pick a bold color at the paint shop for your front door, and give it a fresh spring coat. Or, for less of a commitment, add some window boxes full of punchy blooms. Quick and easy projects like these help celebrate the season of sunshine, and will remind you (and your neighbors) to smile as they walk past your home.

I’m challenging you to clear your schedule today and do 3 things for yourself. You work your butt off, and deserve some time for yourself. If you try this out, let me know how it went, and if you feel rested and rejuvenated, let’s keep this up.

It’s the middle of the week, the weather’s getting warmer, and I’m completely inspired to create a must-do bucket list for the season….

My bucket lists have always tended to go a little overboard, reading something like: go to Morocco, Bali and Coachella. All in one season. I don’t know about you, but just reading that sentence aloud makes my wallet feel like it’s burning. So, this time, I decided to approach my list a little more realistically. One comprised of things that I could accomplish. Remember, realistic doesn’t have to mean less exciting. I’m completely fired up by this list, which is not finished at the moment, but off to a good start. It’s a mix between super duper fun things, and smaller goals I’ve been hoping to complete. The overall theme — wellness. Wellness that is not just for me, but for Mother Earth. Spring is when she thrives, with new life and fresh buds. I hope to give a little back to the both of us.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Take A Composting Class.

I’ve always wanted to learn how to compost, but have never taken the first step to get there. Signing up for a class with my friends will provide a chance for us to do something different, AND meaningful, and offer the push to start making some changes in my life.

Plant Wildflowers For The Bees.

The bees are struggling, and desperately need our help. I’ll be checking this box off my list over the weekend, as I head to the plant shop and snag some wildflower seeds to plant. I can’t wait to see the beauty that comes of it.

Preserve Jar.

I preserved a jar of Meyer lemons last month and, my goodness, what a treat. I’ve been tossing them into dressings, salads and snacks. Adding this to my bucket list will yield a season full of fresh produce to pickle, keeping both my fridge and gut happy.

Buy a Plane Ticket.

Traveling is still on my list, but this provides me with a better opportunity to research before putting everything in one list and not doing any of it. Buy ONE ticket, research, and make a plan for a future trip. Realistic goals, my friends.

+ My list will probably grow more and more, and I’d love to hear what fun things you babes are thinking. What are some other things that I should add to my list?

Ensure that your skin remains hydrated, even after those first layers of dirt are cleared away…

I’ve seen a lot of beauty products in my tender years — countless textures, scents, brands. I’ve gone from fluffy foam to slimy gels. Soft cream cleansers to soap bars. Oh, and dare I forget to mention the honey-all-over-my-face phase. (That was a bit messy.) For the past few months, I’ve been deep in constant trial and error mode, attempting to find the perfect facial routine for me.

Meet Kopari, my newest go-to. I first opted to first try a travel pack containing a variety of their coconut-based products. But after a couple weeks — and success — I ordered both their cleansing oil and toner.

So, what’s the deal on cleansing oil? Basically, it’s exactly what it sounds like — oil that penetrates and cleanses the skin, leaving it soft and glowing. Honestly, in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I would like its texture. I’m used to creating lather when I wash my face, which this doesn’t really do. But I decided to switch from my bubbly cleanser to oil when a friend recommended that she could actually see and feel a difference in her skin.

Benefits.

While the oil removes dirt from your skin, it also moisturizes. Foamy cleansers can sometimes strip everything, without replacing lost moisture. Oil cleansers ensure that your skin stays hydrated after the first layers of dirt are cleared away.

Is quick and easy. I’m all for routines that don’t take up tons of time.

Protects natural skin oils and maintains healthy moisture levels.

My Routine.

Once in the morning, once at night. The cool thing about cleansing oil? It can go on either a dry or wet face. I like to wet my face a bit with warm water, grab a cotton pad and go to work. I use three pumps, and work around my face, in a circular motion, for about 30 seconds. I was blown away by how dirty our faces are, even after a night’s sleep! Simply rinse off with warm water, pat to dry. 3 spritzes of toner, and you’re good to go. I’ve found that my face felt super moisturized after those two steps alone, but if you have drier skin, the coconut face cream feels incredible.

Quick Tips.

I’ve been reading up on the best practices to keep your face clean, hydrated and happy. Here are a few things to keep in mind while creating a facial routine that works for you:

Skincare should be personalized. We are all created differently (but beautiful, of course). Our skin has its own personalized needs, so it takes time to figure out what those are. But, that being said, there is such a thing as basic skincare. Cleanse, Treat (If Needed), Toning, Moisturize — these are the 4 basic steps, no matter what your skin type.

Cleanse your face BEFORE getting into the shower. Yes, you heard me right. I know this is a pain, but the second you step into a hot steamy shower with a face full of makeup, your pores are quickly opening up and taking in all of that stuff.

Cleansing Oil can be a quick way to give your face a pick-me-up if you’re on the go. Pump cleansing oil + toner on a cotton pad. Wipe away. No water necessary.

Cleanse before and after a workout. Just like the shower, a workout creates the perfect environment for clogging pores.

My final advice? Try things out. What may work wonderfully for me may not for you. But, skin is so important, so be sure to show it some love, daily. Nothing is set in stone. You have the ability to create a skin routine that works perfectly for you. So do just that, and start by giving cleansing oil a try.

+ Have any sweet cleansing oil tips or facts that I missed? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear. <3

To break my Sunday cycle, I started off by telling myself this: You are a beautiful, hard-working, selfless being, and you deserve this time. Treat yourself.

So I did. Three things, every Sunday, for myself. I’m sharing them to give y’all some ideas, and hopefully inspire you to take a day off — completely — and cater to your needs. Follow along with this series if you feel like your “you” time is missing.

Slow Down.

Instead of rushing through your morning, take it easy. Enjoy whatever lazy routine you may have, without any anxiousness to get out the door. I spent the morning sipping coffee and gathering old rolls of film that needed developing. I put time aside for awhile, and it was lovely. I’m saving the speedy mornings for Mondays.

Art Crawl.

When is the last time you decided to check out some art? Unfortunately, it’s been a while for me, until now. I’m going to make a point to dedicate some time to it. It’s something that I know I should do more often, because each time I do, I feel inspired and eager to go create something beautiful. Detaching yourself from your own art can help you explore new ideas that have been hiding deep within. Go buy a ticket to the art museum. Visit a free gallery. Or, if it’s beautiful out, grab your pup and seek out some street art.

Create Space.

Now that your creative juices are flowing, come home and put them to good use. I remember as a little girl, my mom and I would rearrange my bedroom furniture once a month. It made my room feel completely different and refreshing, which helped my mood while I spent time in it. So now it’s your turn. Rearrange a corner in your home. Add some quirky touches to it. Keeping my environment as beautiful as possible is super important to me, so a quick refresh is needed from time to time. I have this mid-century modern dresser that I picked up at a flea for almost nothing. I took all the arts and crafts supplies out of the middle drawer and stuffed some plants in it. It totally brightened up that area, and gave me tiny bits of happiness each time I walked past it over the last week.

I’m challenging you to clear your schedule today and do 3 things for yourself. You work your butt off, and deserve some time for yourself. If you try this out, let me know how it went, and if you feel rested and rejuvenated, let’s keep this up.

Happy Valentines Day, babes! To celebrate, I decided to bring the book club back. Because, if I’m being brutally honest, I fall in l o v e with literary characters on a daily basis. Just yesterday, I picked up a novel, and met a new best friend within its pages — how cool is that?

So. Here’s my list. Three books, all different, but connected in one way: love. Each of these honors a deep love story, and I’m a sucker for that, as you may know.

Vinegar Girl. Anne Tyler.

Shakespeare was the voice of romance, and nothing will ever change that. But, Anne Tyler’s loose telling of The Taming of the Shrew was witty, modern, and left me smiling. I was quickly intrigued by its main character, Kate, who at times had me literally laughing out loud in my chair over her sticky love situation. If you are someone intimidated by reading Shakespeare, but hungry for a taste of his work, this book is for you.

Eleanor & Park. Rainbow Rowell.

I’m so excited about sharing this one I could squeal. You may have read it, because it is just about everyone’s favorite love story but, if you haven’t, go to the library now. This book may fall under the YA (gulp — Young Adult) category, and I may be 25, but hey, who cares? I love a little nostalgia in life. A good young love story makes my heart feel all fluttery. You know how I mentioned getting a BFF out of a novel? Well, Eleanor is one of them. Her big red hair, questionable outfitting, and misfit behavior mixes perfectly with her sweet, sweet love story. 5 out of 5 stars on this one.

A Man Called Ove. Fredrik Backman.

This story made me cry for a solid hour. Not like sniffly tears but, like, eye-swelling tears. I guarantee you will feel every single emotion ever invented while reading this book. Quite simply, the story revolves around an old man named Ove and his struggle with happiness, relationships, and the last few years of his life. This book is not one I would normally have picked to read, but I am so happy I did. It reminded me to try out new reads, and stick with them. Give Ove a little love.

If you don’t have a Valentine today, go grab a big cup of joe, and one of these books. I promise you’ll find one somewhere in the pages.

+ What are 3 books you have fallen in love with? Pretty please comment them below as possible reads for our next book club!

To break my Sunday cycle, I started off by telling myself this: You are a beautiful, hard-working, selfless being, and you deserve this time. Treat yourself.

So I did. Three things, every Sunday, for myself. I’m sharing them to give y’all some ideas, and hopefully inspire you to take a day off—completely—and cater to your needs. Follow along with this series if you feel like “you” time is missing.

Just Go.

I may or may not have driven 12 hours last weekend to the beach. On a whim, mind you. I’m not suggesting you do that today. Well, maybe I am, because it was exactly what I needed and totally fun (minus the snow storm on the way there, with truckers roaring down a mountain), but moving forward. Today, I want you to be spontaneous. If your heart is telling you to go be somewhere, even if it’s last minute and you are a bit unsure, go for it. Try.

Explore.

Both your mental and physical health. Take 30 minutes and focus on the connection between mind and body. My favorite way to do this? Going for a long walk. I took one by the sea last Sunday, and my goodness, I felt like a new woman when I finished. The coast was grey, salty mist was dancing around me, and I let everything go. I disconnected from my stresses and focused on my energy and the beauty surrounding me. If you aren’t up for walking, try stretching someplace inspiring and peaceful.

Dream.

Think of what happiness means to you. Words, ideas, goals. Scribble that down, and save it. This activity will be comforting and nostalgic to you, I promise. Happiness to me is a banana split-colored beach house surrounded by succulents.

I’m challenging you to clear your schedule today and do3 things for yourself. You work your butt off, and deserve some time for yourself. If you try this out, let me know how it went, and if you feel rested and rejuvenated, let’s keep this up.